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Michael Punongbayan - The Philippine Star
February 8, 2026 | 12:00am
A rescue team from the Iligan City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office responds to calls for evacuation amidst heavy rains and flooding due to Tropical Storm Basyang in the Mahayahay area.
ICDRRMO photo
MANILA, Philippines — The number of reported casualties due to Tropical Storm Basyang has risen to 12.
Apart from the four fatalities, including two children, due to a landslide in Cagayan de Oro City, four more deaths were recorded in Mindanao, the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council said yesterday.
Three of those deaths were recorded in Iligan City, along with another landslide victim, and another whose actual cause of death is still being determined, the NDRRMC reported, citing Mayor Frederick Siao.
Meanwhile, Office of Civil Defense Caraga reported two fatalities in Surigao del Sur and another in Agusan del Norte, all due to drowning.
According to latest situational reports, a total of 232,550 people from 517 different barangays in Western Visayas, Central Visayas, Caraga Region and the Negros Island Region have been affected by Basyang.
Of the number, some 53,983 people are seeking temporary shelter in 480 evacuation centers. In Negros, at least 11,517 people have been pre-emptively evacuated.
The NDRRMC said it has also received reports of 30 flooded barangays, power interruptions and damaged houses in the Caraga Region.
The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) yesterday said Basyang’s rainfall amount exceeded a “100-year return period” in northern Mindanao.
“This means that in any given year, there is a one percent chance that this kind of extreme rainfall event (or worse) could occur,” PAGASA reported.
DSWD aid
So far, the Department of Social Welfare and Development has distributed P27 million worth of humanitarian assistance to families affected by Basyang, DSWD spokesperson Irene Dumlao said.
“This is through family food packs, ready to eat food and non-food items, especially to evacuation centers at present,” she noted during the Saturday Forum in Quezon City yesterday.
Dumlao said DSWD Secretary Rex Gatchalian flew to Iligan City to identify and address the needs of the victims.
“Iligan City has requested yesterday (Friday) for augmentation support of 2,300 family food packs for their relief operation. They also requested modular tents and hygiene kits and food boxes,” she said.
“We have also distributed assistance in Misamis Occidental, Misamis Oriental, Agusan del Norte, Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat islands,” Dumlao added. — Jose Rodel Clapano, Gilbert Bayoran, Josiah Antonio
